Best Budget-Friendly New Cars Under $25,000

Most of these come with standard automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection and AEB that operates at highway speeds. Blind spot warning (BSW) and rear cross traffic warning (RCTW) are either standard or optional without pushing the price above $25,000 before destination charge, taxes, and fees. A few models that were bumped out of the price category by the added cost of those safety features will be on our Best New Cars and SUVs for Under $30,000 list.

Be aware that Overall Scores change over time as new information, such as reliability data, becomes available. The model pages always reflect our latest ratings.

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Used-car shoppers can click through to the model pages for information on older versions of these vehicles. Consumer Reports members can also search our Used Car Marketplace for vehicles for sale in their area, sorting by the factors that matter the most. The listings include Consumer Reports reliability and owner satisfaction ratings, and most vehicles include a free Carfax report.